Perpetually Dreaming

Chapter 4-A Journey Begins

((1,515 words))
Chapter 4-A journey begins

      When we got home, Ally and I unloaded everything from the car and carried it into the house. I heard a loud ding, and, for once, it was not my own phone! Ally hastily scrambled into her pocket and looked at the notification, reading it aloud with a childish grin.

      "Me and the boys just landed at the airport, be there in an hour," she read. "Natalie did you hear that! They're literally so close!" It took me a moment to realize what she meant in the midst of all her screams.

     "We're not leaving for this trip thing today, are we?"

     "Once they get here, yea."

     My eyes widened as I heard her utter those words, flipping me into panic mode. Immediately, I rushed to my room to begin packing a bag, hoping there's going to be time to get enough things stuffed into a duffel. Opening my dresser, I grabbed four pairs of leggings, three pairs of shorts, and a couple pairs of sweatpants. Seems like that's enough pants for one trip. I rolled them up and laid them into the bag, leaving enough room for shirts. Swinging open the closet, I grabbed 10 or so tee shirts from the floor and slammed it shut. Once I got my shirts situated in my bag, I grabbed a bagful of socks and undergarments, before hastily tossing my toiletries bag on top of it.

    I struggled to zip the bag, with everything inside taking up more space than I planned for, and ended up sticking a foot in it to hold everything down. Once I had managed to get it all zipped, I threw it down by my door and grabbed my to-go bag from underneath my bed, checking to make sure I had everything I needed. The usual, you know: portable charger, extra earbuds, a notebook, and other important camping gear. I figure the others will be more prepared, considering they actually took the time to pack for this and weren't notified an hour before we're all supposed to leave. I'm not mad, I'm just... yea no I'm mad.

     I heard a knock at the door, followed by Ally yelling, "I'll get it!" Creeping out of my room, I watched as she opened the door and was immediately hugged by a tallish blonde dude. His friends flooded into the room, all of them sporting jet-lagged faces and sweatpants. Except for one of them... one of them was looking fresh as ever and, dare I say, familiar.

    "Liam?"

    "Natalie?"

    "Graser!" The blonde guy chimed in.

      This was getting to be too much for my small brain to handle. I walked to my couch and sat down, burying my face in a pillow. Surviving this trip seems to keep getting further down on the list of possibilities.

      Liam walked over and sat down, intensely staring at me. Well maybe not me, but definitely the flannel. "You have any intent of giving that back?" he asked, politely as possible.

     I looked at him like he's mad. "You dare come into my home, sit on my couch, and ask for this comfy flannel back?" I joked at him. "You could have told me that this trip we're going on is... The same one. Or that my roommate is dating your friend."

     "You think I knew? Plus you could have said the exact same thing" He reasoned. I shook my head and sighed, putting my head on his shoulder. H wrapped his around me as his friends found seats around the living room, making themselves as comfy as one could be in the tiny living room. I figured it wouldn't take long for his friends to notice us being friendly, but they seemed lost in their own world.

      It wasn't until after a round of learning and immediately forgetting names that it was brought up. For a quick recap, the tall blonde guy really was Zach, which is a good start; I was already two for two in knowing these people. Then there was Shelby, a small, dirty blonde haired girl who gleamed with pride. I take it she organized this all. The tallest of the bunch was an awkward guy known as Will, who kept an arm around the other girl, Emily. She exuded so much confidence that I would've been knocked off my feet if I wasn't already sitting. Her long brown hair was up in a ponytail, and she adorned the same clothes as Shelby: a yellow romper. I can't believe they coordinated that.